John W. Rollins, Sr.*

Born in Keith, Georgia, in 1916, John Rollins assumed much of the duties on their 80-acre farm at the age of 12, when his father suffered a stroke. After high school, he continued his education through correspondence courses and night school. He borrowed $10,000 to open a car dealership in Lewes, Delaware, which later gave him the idea to lease trucks. In 1947, Rollins and his older brother, O. Wayne Rollins, founded Rollins Broadcasting, which expanded into television in 1956. By 1984, the interests of Rollins, Inc., had become so diverse two new companies were spun off: Rollins Communications and RPC Energy Services, Inc., which were traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Rollins Truck Leasing Corp. was sold to Penske Truck Leasing in 2001 for more than $700 million. In 1952, Rollins served as Lieutenant Governor of Delaware.